This International Women’s Day, as the world celebrates the achievements of women, I find myself reflecting on a legacy that was built on a foundation of profound empathy and service—a legacy that was met with a heartbreaking lack of both in its final hour.
A Legacy of Wings: The Life of a Distinguished Principal
My mother-in-law, Dr. Bimla Nangia, was a force of nature. As a distinguished and learned Principal, her life’s work was dedicated to one mission: uplifting young women. She didn’t just teach; she gave them wings. She created opportunities where there were none and mentored thousands of girls, empowering them to reach for heights they never thought possible.
The outpouring of love we received upon her demise was a testament to the lives she transformed. Women from all walks of life reached out, sharing stories of how her guidance changed their trajectories. She was a woman who understood that the true measure of success is how much you give back to the world.
The Contrast: A Final Chapter Without Empathy
It is a bitter irony that a woman who spent her life practicing such deep empathy was met with a medical fraternity that seemed to have forgotten the meaning of the word.
We put our faith in a system, spending huge amounts of money for what we thought was the best care. What we received instead was the “5-minute update.” In the high-stakes world of a hospital ward, our questions were met with hurried answers and a “standard protocol” that failed to account for the fragility of a 92-year-old body.
She was put on an aggressive TB medication regimen for a “mild” count—a treatment her frail heart and failing kidneys simply could not withstand. While the doctors were busy with their 5-minute rounds, her body was fighting a battle it was never equipped to win.
The Numbers the System Overlooked
The data from her final days tells a story of a rapid, avoidable decline that a rushed human eye missed, but a dedicated analysis would have flagged instantly.
| Vital Marker | Feb 16 (The Starting Point) | Feb 22/23 (The Final Reports) | The Reality +3 |
| Creatinine | 1.84 mg/dL | 3.82 mg/dL | Kidney waste doubled in 6 days. |
| eGFR (Function) | 27.27 | 11.74 | She crashed into End-Stage Failure. |
| Blood Urea | 70.19 mg/dL | 142.53 mg/dL | Toxic buildup skyrocketed. |
| Bilirubin (Total) | 2.37 mg/dL | 4.26 mg/dL | Her liver was in a state of crisis. |
| Potassium | 5.09 mEq/L | 5.50 mEq/L | A dangerous risk to her heart. |
| ESR (Inflammation) | 45 mm/hr | 65 mm/hr | Massive systemic stress. |
AI Intervention: Brought Clarity to the “5-Minute” daily update
This is why I am advocating for a shift. We need to bridge the gap between expensive medical expertise and the actual involvement required to save a life. How AI Can Humanize Medical Care and Protect Our Aging Loved Ones
AI isn’t just a tool; it’s a guardian of clarity.
- Continuous Oversight: Unlike a doctor on a 5-minute timer, AI can analyze lab trends in real-time, flagging when a medication is becoming toxic rather than therapeutic.
- Detailed Empowerment: AI can take complex medical data and provide families with a clear, detailed update—giving us the information we need to challenge a “standard protocol” that doesn’t fit our loved one.
- Empathetic Analysis: True empathy in medicine comes from truly seeing the patient. AI allows for a level of granular analysis that ensures the treatment plan respects the patient’s age and overall health, not just the disease.
My mother-in-law gave wings to thousands of women. On this Women’s Day, I am honoring her by demanding better & speaking out. We must demand a healthcare system that supports our Aging parents who have contributed to building todays Bharat —– one that uses every technological advantage to ensure no other family is blindsided again. We empower our selves with tools that helps in creating clarity! Mama will be deeply missed!
“I’d love to hear how @MHI views the role of humanism in reducing sustained patient burnout.” @PEN
#PatientExperience #MedicalHumanities #HealthcareLeadership #MedicalEmpathy #AIinMedicine